Overview

• A peer-reviewed paper published in Oceans in June 2025 presents the first documented instance of tongue-nibbling among wild killer whales (Orcinus orca).
• The interaction was captured by snorkelers in Norway’s Kvænangen fjords in January 2024 and lasted nearly two minutes across three gentle oral-contact episodes.
• Previously recorded only in captive orcas since its first mention in 1978, tongue-nibbling was last seen under human care at Tenerife’s Loro Parque in 2013.
• Researchers propose that the kissing-like behavior serves affiliative functions, such as reinforcing social bonds and aiding motor skill development among juveniles.
• The study highlights the crucial role of citizen science and underwater recording tools in revealing cryptic marine behaviors and urges expanded monitoring across orca populations.